Rick,
Maybe a little reason for the upward pressure? Are we today's Curagen?
BTW, <<46 percent represent new genes not present in existing databases>> I assume they mean existing expression databases. Or do they really mean public gene sequence databases?
biowa
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Genzyme Molecular Oncologys SAGE Technology Provides Breakthrough Data Regarding Gene Expression in Cancer and Normal Tissues
Dec. 9, 1999
Analysis of SAGE Data Published in Nature Genetics--
Genzyme Molecular Oncology (Nasdaq: GZMO) today announced that its SAGE (serial analysis of gene expression) technology has supplied researchers with a database of new information regarding the patterns of expressed genes in human cancer and normal tissues. A summary of the SAGE data was published in the article Analysis of Human Transcriptomes in the December issue of Nature Genetics (vol. 23, pp. 287-288).
Genzyme Molecular Oncologys patented SAGE technology enables the company to identify genes as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for potential cancer product development. Genzyme Molecular Oncology also licenses SAGE to commercial and academic collaborators for use in their own research.
As described in Nature Genetics, researchers at Johns Hopkins University analyzed 3.5 million transcripts from Genzyme Molecular Oncologys proprietary database and from public data that included information from normal and cancer tissue. Of the transcripts identified by SAGE, 46 percent represent new genes not present in existing databases. Transcripts are expressed genes that can be identified by SAGE to quantify gene expression levels in tissues. The combined information provided a number of intriguing insights into disease and normal biology.
Researchers identified a set of 40 genes that were expressed at elevated levels in all cancer tissue but are not seen in normal tissue. This set may provide future diagnostic markers or therapeutic targets.
The study also provided data that allows researchers to advance their understanding of the way cells use the genome. For example, it was found that a single cell type can express as many as 43,500 genes. There is also a set of approximately 1,000 genes that appear to be expressed by all cells whether diseased or normal. Additionally, researchers found only a small number of transcripts that were expressed only in a single type of tissue.
It is essential to understand levels of gene expression in tissues in order to translate knowledge from the Human Genome Project into novel therapeutic products, said Gail Maderis, president of Genzyme Molecular Oncology. SAGE is a powerful tool that can allow us to do just thatdevelop targeted, next-generation cancer products. SAGE data can also be used outside of cancer indications and is available for licensing.
SAGE is a high-efficiency method of comprehensively identifying and quantifying genes expressed in a tissue or cell line. It can be used in a wide variety of applications such as identifying disease-related genes, analyzing the effects of drugs on tissues, and providing insight into disease pathways. SAGE is an integral part of Genzyme Molecular Oncologys therapeutic discovery efforts with particular emphasis on the identification of novel tumor antigens and anti-angiogenic factors. To date, Genzyme Molecular Oncology has generated a database of over three million transcripts believed to represent in excess of 100,000 genes from major cancers and normal human tissue.
SAGE was invented by a group of researchers led by Kenneth Kinzler, Ph.D. of the Johns Hopkins University and Bert Vogelstein, M.D. of the Johns Hopkins University and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The technology is exclusively licensed to Genzyme Molecular Oncology. In November 1999, Victor Velculescu, Ph.D., a cancer researcher in the group at the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center, won the International Prize for Young Scientists for his work on developing SAGE. Amersham Pharmacia Biotech and the journal Science created this prestigious award to honor outstanding graduate students in molecular biology.
Genzyme Molecular Oncology is developing a new generation of cancer products focusing on cancer vaccines and angiogenesis inhibitors. It is shaping these new therapies through the integration of its gene discovery, gene therapy, small-molecule drug discovery, and protein therapeutic efforts.
A division of Genzyme Corporation, Genzyme Molecular Oncology has its own common stock intended to reflect its economic value and track its performance.
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the ability of the identified genes to provide future diagnostic markers and therapeutic products and the number of genes represented in Genzyme Molecular Oncologys SAGE database. Actual results may differ significantly from these estimates based on the results of future studies using these data.
SAGE is a trademark of Genzyme Corporation. All rights reserved. |
